Pipe-pushing device.



G. D. AMMON.

PIPE PUSHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys (30., PHOTO-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D. C.

CHARLES D. AMMON, OF DAVID CITY, NEBRASKA.

PIPE-BUSHING DEVICE;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 17, 1914:-

Application filed July 17, 1913. Serial No. 779,645.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LCHAs. D. AMM N,

a citizen of the United States, residing at David City, in the county of Butler and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Pipe-Pushing Device, of which the following is a specification,

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted to be employed .for pushing a pipe through the earth, and

for withdrawing the pipe.

One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of the type above indicated in which. the carriage which supports the pipe is operated smoothly and with a min mum amount of friction.

Another object of the invention is to providenovel means foractuating the carriage.

The invention aims to improve generally and to enhance the utility of, devices of that typeto which the present invention appertains.

Vith the aboveand other objects in view which will appear as the discription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that tion; Fig. 2 is a top plan; Fig. 3 is an end elevation In carrying out the invention there is provided atsupporting structure including a track, the track comprising spaced parallel bars 1 connected by cross ties 2 and 2 In their outer faces, the bars 1 are equipped with longitudinal grooves 3, and upon their upper faces, the bars 1 are supplied with racks 45. The cross ties 2 project at their ends beyond the bars 1, so that the structure may be staked readily to the ground.

The carriage which is mounted to reciprocate upon the track above described is a composite structure and includes parallel pairs of side plates 5. The pairs of plates5 are connected at their upper edges and adjacent their ends by top bars 6, and bottom bars 7 connect the pairs of side plates adjacent their lower edges and at their ends. The bottom bars 7 include downwardly extended arms 8 terminating in inwardly extended fingers. 9, the fingers 9 being engaged in the grooves 3 of the side bars'l. In this manner, the carriage is connected with the track for ri ht line movement.

Mounted in the side plates 5 adjacent the forward end of the carriage are shafts 10 I supporting cog wheels 11 which are located between the plates 5 of each pair, the cog wheels 11 meshing into the racks 4 of the bars 1. Other shafts 12 are mounted in the pairs of the side plates 5 adjucent the rear end of the carriage, the shafts 12 supporting cog wheels 1% which mesh into the racks 4. The side plates-5 are supplied with extensions 15, located opposite to the cog wheels let, Back stop pawls 16 are pivoted between the extensions 15 of the side plates, the back stop pawls 16 being adapted to engage the cog wheels 1i.

Pivotally supported as indicated at 17 upon the rear top bar 6 is a bifurcated primary lever 18 terminating in an upstanding handle 19. Links 20 are pivoted as indicated at 21 to the bifurcations of the lever 18. Pairs of secondary levers 22 are fulcrumed upon the shafts 10, the pairs of levers 22 supporting shaft 25 carrying actuating pawls 24. The actuating pawls 24L terminate in oppositely extended ends 26, adapted, respectively, to engage with the cog wheels 11 when the actuating pawls are reversed.

Screws 27 are threaded into the top bars 6 and at their upper ends are provided with transverse handles 28, or other suitable means whereby the screws may be rotated. Journaled on the lower ends of the screws 27 and located below the top bars 6 are movable jaws 29, cooperating with fixed jaws 30 supported by the bottom bars 7 of the carriage. l i

The pipe which is to be advanced is denoted by the numeral 31 and is bound between the jaws 30 and 29. The .pipe 31 may be equipped at its forward end with a coueluding a frame which is denoted generally by the numeral 3''. The frame 39 may be variously constructed and may be mounted in any desired manner upon any portion of the machine. Tie frame 39 is shown as comprising standards 40 provided at their lower cuts with sockets 41 adapted to receive the pipe 31, there being devices 42 in the sockets 41, whereby the standards 40 n'lay be connected to the pipe. A sight tube i3 is secured to the upper ends of the standards 41 0. Fixed to and depending from the sight tube at?) are one or more fleXible elements is provided at their lower ends with plumb bobs 45.

in practical operation, the lever 18 is swung to and fro by means of the handle 19. Motion is thus transmitted to the links 2t and from the links 20 motion is transmitted to the secondary levers The actuating pawls 2i which are carried by the secondary levers 22 engage with the cog wheels 11 and rotate the same, the cog wheels meshing into the racks 4: and serving to advance the carriage by a step-by-step movement. Obviously, the double ended actuating pawls 24 may be reversed, and by a proper manipulation of the lever 18-49, the pipe may be retracted. in machines of this type, there is some rebound or back lash, due to the fact that the ground yields, and due to the fact that the securing stakes and other parts of the machine yield to some degree. This rebound is taken up by the backstop pawls 16 which engage the cog wheels ii. The position of the pilot 33 with respect to the vertical may be adjusted by means oi? the sight tube and the position of the pilot with respect to the horizontal may be determined by noting the position of the flexible elements it with respect to the standards 40, it being obvious that when the pilot is level, the flexible elements 44 will stand in parallelism with the standards 40. The pipe 31 may be clamped between the jaws and 30 by rotating the screws 27 through the medium of the handles 28.

Especial attention is directed to the construction of the forward end of the pilot 3", since this portion oi the device is peculiarly eliicient in directing the movement of the pilot and in facilitating the entrance of the pilot into the ground. The point 38 fashions the initial opening, which is enlarged by the tip 37, the opening thus formed being enlarged by the tapered neck 36 to receive the head 34-. Owing to the fact that the head 34. is of greater diameter than the body portion of the pilot 33, as indicated by the shoulder the body portion of the pilot will pass into the ground with little or no friction, an enlarged opening having been formed by the head 34:. The cog wheels 14 and 11 serve not only as a means whereby the carriage may be advanced, but, as well, serve to support the carriage antifrictiona lly. In addition to this double function, the wheels 11 act as ratchet wheels, the same being engaged by the actuating pawls 2 11. The rear cog wheels 14 exercise the double function above referred to, and, in

addition, they act as ratchet wheels engaged by the hack stop pawls 16.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is l. in a device of the class described, a rack; a carriage; a cog wheel on the forward end of the carriage and meshing into the rack pipe holding means on the carriage a lever fiilcrumed on the forward end of the carriage; means for operatively connecting the lever with the cog wheel; a second lever tulcrumedon the rear end of the carriage and accessible from the rear end of the carriage; and a link connecting the intermediate portion of the second lever with the upper end oi the first specified lever.

2. In a pipe pushing machine, a track having grooves in its side faces; a carriage comprising side plates; spaced cross bars connecting the plates, one cross bar having lingers engaged in the grooves; a fixed clamp on the fingercarrying bar; a movable clamp on the other bar; and means for moving the carriage along the track.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES D. AMMON. lVitnesses Lo'rrm DwouAK, JOHN T. AMMON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

